New King James Version
Psalms 44:3
3For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, Nor did their own arm save them; But it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, Because You favored them.
Psalms 44:3 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them.
- New International Version (NIV)It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them.
- English Standard Version (ESV)for not by their own sword did they win the land, nor did their own arm save them, but your right hand and your arm, and the light of your face, for you delighted in them.
- New Living Translation (NLT)They did not conquer the land with their swords; it was not their own strong arm that gave them victory. It was your right hand and strong arm and the blinding light from your face that helped them, for you loved them.
Context of Psalms 44:3
1We have heard with our ears, O God, Our fathers have told us, The deeds You did in their days, In days of old: 2You drove out the nations with Your hand, But them You planted; You afflicted the peoples, and cast them out. For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, Nor did their own arm save them; But it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, Because You favored them. 4You are my King, O God; Command victories for Jacob. 5Through You we will push down our enemies; Through Your name we will trample those who rise up against us.
Read all of Psalms 44Psalms 44:3 word by word
כִּ֤י לֹ֪א בְחַרְבָּ֡ם יָ֥רְשׁוּ אָ֗רֶץ וּזְרוֹעָם֮ לֹא־הוֹשִׁ֪יעָ֫ה לָּ֥מוֹ כִּֽי־יְמִֽינְךָ֣ וּ֭זְרוֹעֲךָ וְא֥וֹר פָּנֶ֗יךָ כִּ֣י רְצִיתָֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- For they gotיָרַשׁyârash yârêsh · to possess: takeH3423
- not the landאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
- by their own swordחֶ֫רֶבchereb · swordH2719
- neither did their own armזְרוֹעַzerôa‛ zerôa‛ zerô‛âh zerô‛âh · armH2220
- saveיָשַׁעyâsha‛ · to saveH3467
- them: but thy right handיָמִיןyâmîyn · rightH3225
- and the lightאוֹר'ôr · lightH216
- of thy countenanceפָּנֶהpânîym · faceH6440
- because thou hadst a favourרָצָהrâtsâh · to acceptH7521
Cross-references for Psalms 44:3
- Deuteronomy 4:37And because He loved your fathers, therefore He chose their descendants after them; and He brought you out of Egypt with His Presence, with His mighty power,
- Deuteronomy 8:17then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’
- Joshua 24:12I sent the hornet before you which drove them out from before you, also the two kings of the Amorites, but not with your sword or with your bow.
- Zechariah 4:6So he answered and said to me: “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts.
- 2 Corinthians 4:7But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
- Psalms 17:7Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand, O You who save those who trust in You From those who rise up against them.
- Psalms 20:6Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven With the saving strength of His right hand.
- Psalms 74:11Why do You withdraw Your hand, even Your right hand? Take it out of Your bosom and destroy them.
- Exodus 15:16Fear and dread will fall on them; By the greatness of Your arm They will be as still as a stone, Till Your people pass over, O Lord, Till the people pass over Whom You have purchased.
- Isaiah 63:12Who led them by the right hand of Moses, With His glorious arm, Dividing the water before them To make for Himself an everlasting name,
- Psalms 42:5Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him For the help of His countenance.
- Psalms 80:16It is burned with fire, it is cut down; They perish at the rebuke of Your countenance.
- Numbers 14:8If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, ‘a land which flows with milk and honey.’
- Deuteronomy 7:7The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples;
- 1 Samuel 12:22For the Lord will not forsake His people, for His great name’s sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you His people.
- Malachi 1:2“I have loved you,” says the Lord. “Yet you say, ‘In what way have You loved us?’ Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” Says the Lord. “Yet Jacob I have loved;
Commentaries on Psalms 44:3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3For they got not the land - Neither by their valor, nor cunning, nor for their merit; yet, they were obliged to fight. But how did they conquer? By the right hand of the Lord, and by his arm; by his strength alone, and the light of his countenance - his favor most manifestly shown unto them.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3For they got not the land in possession - The land of Canaan. The design of this verse is to illustrate the sentiment in the previous verse, that they owed their establishment in the promised land wholly to God. The fact that He had interposed in their behalf; that He had shown that he was able to discomfit their enemies, is appealed to as a reason why he should now interpose in a time of national danger and calamity. He who had driven out the nations in…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3Though the Israelites used swords and other weapons (Psalm 44:6), they would have lost their battles without the light of the Lord’s favor (see Psalms 18:25–29; 27:1; 89:15).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-261-3. This period is that of the settlement of Canaan (Jos 24:12; Jud 6:3). have told--or, "related" (compare Ex 10:2).Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 44:3
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 44
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- The Treasury of David
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries